You can transfer money from Chime to another bank account in three ways: when ready transfers to a linked debit card, ACH transfers to a bank account, or cash withdrawals at ATMs

The fastest route is a Chime when ready transfer to a debit card from another bank — the money lands in seconds to a few minutes. If you want to move money to a checking or savings account instead, you use an ACH transfer, which takes one to three business days. The slowest but most flexible option is to withdraw cash at any ATM and deposit it yourself, though this only works for amounts you can carry and costs you time.

Which method you choose depends on how fast you need the money, whether you have a debit card from the destination bank, and whether you want to avoid any fees. Chime charges nothing for transfers to linked cards or ACH transfers to bank accounts, but some banks charge you to receive an incoming ACH transfer — that fee comes out of the money you receive, not out of your Chime account.

Key Takeaways

  • when ready transfers to a linked debit card from another bank complete in seconds to minutes and cost nothing through Chime.
  • ACH transfers to a bank account take one to three business days and are free from Chime, though the receiving bank may charge a fee.
  • You set up a transfer in the Chime mobile app under "Send Money" or "Transfer" — the exact menu name depends on your Chime account type.
  • Transfers initiated on weekends or after business hours process the next business day, so timing matters if you need the money by a specific date.
  • You must link the destination account or card to Chime before you can transfer to it, which takes a few minutes and requires the account number.

when ready transfers to a debit card from another bank

An when ready transfer moves money from your Chime account to a debit card issued by another bank in seconds to a few minutes. This is the fastest option and costs nothing. The receiving bank deposits the money as a credit to the cardholder's account when ready, so if you transfer to someone else's card, they see the money right away.

To set up an when ready transfer, open the Chime app, go to "Send Money" or "Transfer" (the label varies by account type), and select "Transfer to a Card". Enter the 16-digit debit card number, the cardholder's name, and the amount. Chime will ask you to confirm the card details — this step prevents sending money to the wrong card. Once you confirm, the transfer processes when ready. You will see it in your Chime transaction history within seconds.

The receiving bank may place a temporary hold on the money while they verify the transfer, but the cardholder can usually use it when ready. If you transfer to your own card at another bank, the money is yours to spend right away. If you transfer to someone else's card, that person controls the money once it lands.

ACH transfers to a bank account

An ACH transfer moves money from your Chime account to a checking or savings account at another bank through the automated clearing house network. This takes one to three business days and costs nothing from Chime's side, though the receiving bank may charge a small fee to accept incoming transfers — typically $1 to $3, deducted from the amount you receive.

To set up an ACH transfer, open the Chime app and select "Transfer" or "Send Money", then choose "Transfer to a Bank Account". You will need the account number and routing number of the destination bank. If you do not have the routing number, search for it on the receiving bank's website or call their customer service line — it is a nine-digit code that identifies the bank in the ACH network. Enter the account holder's name, the amount, and confirm the details. Chime will show you the expected delivery date based on when you initiated the transfer.

Transfers initiated on a business day before 5 p.m. Eastern Time usually process the same day and arrive by the next business day. Transfers initiated after 5 p.m. or on weekends process the next business day and arrive one to two days later. If you need the money by a specific date, check the expected delivery date in the app before you confirm.

Linking a bank account or card before you transfer

Before you can transfer money to another bank account or card, you must link it to your Chime account. Linking takes a few minutes and requires you to provide the account or card details once. After that, you can transfer to the linked account or card as many times as you want without re-entering the information.

To link an account, go to "Settings" or "Manage Accounts" in the Chime app (the exact menu name depends on your account type), then select "Add Bank Account" or "Add Card". Enter the account number and routing number for a bank account, or the 16-digit card number for a debit card. Chime will ask for the account holder's name and may ask for the last four digits of a Social Security number to verify ownership. Once you confirm, the account or card is linked and ready to receive transfers.

Chime stores the linked account information securely and does not share it with other services. You can link multiple accounts and cards — for example, your checking account at one bank and a savings account at another — and transfer to any of them. If you want to remove a linked account, go back to the same menu and select "Remove" or "Delete" next to the account name.

Fees and limits on transfers

Chime charges no fee to transfer money out of your account to a linked bank account or card. However, the receiving bank may charge you a fee to accept the incoming transfer. This fee is deducted from the amount you receive, so if you transfer $500 and the receiving bank charges $2, the account receives $498. Not all banks charge this fee — many do not — so check with your bank before you transfer if you want to know for certain.

Chime does not publish a daily or monthly limit on the number of transfers you can make, but the receiving bank may limit how many incoming transfers you can receive in a day. Most banks allow at least three to five incoming transfers per day. If you hit the limit, wait until the next day to initiate another transfer. when ready transfers to debit cards are usually not subject to these limits because they are processed by the card network, not by the receiving bank's ACH system.

What to do if a transfer fails or takes longer than expected

A transfer can fail if you enter the account number or routing number incorrectly, if the account is closed, or if the receiving bank rejects the transfer for a security reason. When a transfer fails, Chime returns the money to your Chime account within one to three business days. You will see a notification in the app explaining why the transfer failed — for example, "Invalid account number" or "Account closed".

If a transfer takes longer than the expected delivery date, check the app to see the current status. ACH transfers occasionally take an extra day if the receiving bank is processing a high volume of transfers or if a holiday falls during the transfer window. If the transfer is more than three business days late, contact Chime support through the app — they can investigate with the receiving bank and confirm whether the money arrived.

when ready transfers to debit cards rarely fail, but if one does, Chime will notify you when ready and return the money to your account. If you see a failed when ready transfer, try again with the card number — sometimes a typo causes the failure. If it fails a second time, contact Chime support to confirm the card number is correct.

Transferring money to accounts in your name versus other people's accounts

You can transfer money to any bank account or debit card, whether it belongs to you or someone else. If you transfer to your own account at another bank, the money is yours when ready. If you transfer to someone else's account or card, that person owns the money once it arrives and can spend it however they want — Chime cannot reverse the transfer or recover the money.

For this reason, double-check the account number and cardholder name before you confirm any transfer to someone else. If you transfer to the wrong person by mistake, contact Chime support right away — they can attempt to contact the receiving bank and ask them to reverse the transfer, but success depends on whether the receiving bank cooperates and whether the recipient has already spent the money. The safest approach is to transfer a small test amount first, confirm it arrived in the correct account, and then transfer the full amount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer money from Chime to a savings account at another bank?

Yes. Use an ACH transfer and enter the savings account number and routing number. The process is identical to transferring to a checking account. The money will arrive in one to three business days, and the receiving bank may charge a fee.

How long does an when ready transfer to a debit card actually take?

Most when ready transfers complete in seconds to a few minutes. The money appears in the cardholder's account when ready, though some banks place a temporary hold while they verify the transfer. The cardholder can usually spend the money right away even if a hold is in place.

What happens if I transfer money to the wrong account by mistake?

Contact Chime support when ready through the app. They can ask the receiving bank to reverse the transfer, but success depends on whether the bank cooperates and whether the recipient has already spent the money. There is no may provide the money will be recovered.

Do I need to verify my identity every time I transfer money?

No. After you link an account or card, you can transfer to it as many times as you want without re-entering the information. Chime may ask you to verify your identity if you link a new account, but not for every transfer.

Can I schedule a transfer for a future date?

Chime does not offer scheduled transfers. You must initiate each transfer manually when you want the money to move. If you need to transfer money on a specific date, open the app on that date and complete the transfer then.